Guardian to look after Lido

PEOPLE who enjoy Ruislip Lido will be reassured by the news that an officer will be reinstated to protect the beauty spot.

As part of its budget for 2013/14, Hillingdon Council has proposed funding for a post dedicated to looking after the lake and its surroundings, off Reservoir Road.

The Ruislip Lido Officer will be a single point of contact for visitors and be responsible for co-ordinating redevelopment work at the site and undertaking cleansing and enforcement tasks.

Vicki Brownlee, chairwoman of Friends of Ruislip Lido (FORL), said: “It’s fabulous news that they are returning staff to the Lido so that we can get it to the superb standard it was two years ago.

“It’s excellent, both for the lido itself and for the visitors. It’s what we have been asking for and we know that in these difficult times it’s difficult to spread the costs.”

Full-time officers had been removed or relocated to focus on protecting Ruislip Woods, a nature reserve and Sight of Special Scientific Interest.

The council has been improving access and facilities at the lido, including building an overflow car park, toilets, a café and woodland centre, and making improvements to Ruislip Lido Railway.

Some of the proposed redevelopment work has worried FORL, which wants to make sure wildlife in the area is protected. Ms Brownlee thinks a new officer will help their cause.

“It’s all about getting communication going and having somebody there who has an appreciation and understanding of the lido, because it is a complex area keeping the balance between protecting the wildlife and making it nice for the families who visit,” she said.